waterproof helmet covers
#26
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 808
Likes: 16
From: Beaverton, OR
Bikes: It's the motor, not the bike, right?
I have the one made by gore. I'm on the road by 5AM so that pretty much means jumping out of the shower and onto the bike with a wet head.
I use mine for warmth when the temperature is below 25 degrees - makes a huge difference. Would replace in a heartbeat if lost.
In the Pacific Northwest context - I don't use it for rain or if the temperatures are much above 25.
I use mine for warmth when the temperature is below 25 degrees - makes a huge difference. Would replace in a heartbeat if lost.
In the Pacific Northwest context - I don't use it for rain or if the temperatures are much above 25.
#28
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 960
Likes: 80
J and G Cyclewear. That's what I use, and I live in the PNW. You're in Oregon, and they're made in OR, so you'd be buying locally...
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: Multnomah, Portland, OR
Bikes: Cannondale six13, On-One Dirty Disco
I commute in PDX and I have the Garneau one, which I picked up at Performance on sale. It works as advertised and fits my Giro Atmos perfectly. It might look breathable, it's really not so much, as I got quite hot in it on the warmer rainy days here. My decision though was based entirely on which one would best fit my helmet as I just brought my helmet with me to check out all the options.
I just got a Bern Macon for skiing though, and decided on getting the "summer kit", so I will end up using that for my winter commuting now instead.
I just got a Bern Macon for skiing though, and decided on getting the "summer kit", so I will end up using that for my winter commuting now instead.
#30
Senior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 641
Likes: 0
From: PDX
Bikes: Trek 1200, Kona Honky Inc, PX Stealth
I commute between PDX and Beaverton every day and won't wear one. They don't let my head breathe enough and I find that I overheat. On the really nasty wet days I have a thin felt lined e-Vent cap that I wear under my helmet. If its warm enough I just wear my cycling cap under it and don't care if I get wet.
If I had to chose between the 2 you posted Id get the yellow one.
If I had to chose between the 2 you posted Id get the yellow one.
#31
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
My favorite solution continues to be a cycling cap under the helmet. There are many waterproof ones out there,
It's really there as a comfort to the customer to get the register to go 'Ka Ching'.
It, the seam tape, never lasts.
REI repair .. or PO inroute, just Stole it, when I sent it to be redone.
No they never made one, this one I got in UK in 91.
Now I know ..
#32
Senior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 641
Likes: 0
From: PDX
Bikes: Trek 1200, Kona Honky Inc, PX Stealth
I've seen an Assos one at a bike shop in downtown PDX.
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/pr...:referralID=NA
Personally I sweat enough that I find these to be pointless. I like the standard cycling caps with an REI Buff folded in on itself a few times to keep my ears warm. I only switch to my other full cap when its in the 30s and raining.
This is basically what I use when it gets really cold and nasty out. Mine is an REI version using e-Vent fabric that as far as I can tell they don't make anymore.
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/pr...718.373.0.html
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/pr...:referralID=NA
Personally I sweat enough that I find these to be pointless. I like the standard cycling caps with an REI Buff folded in on itself a few times to keep my ears warm. I only switch to my other full cap when its in the 30s and raining.
This is basically what I use when it gets really cold and nasty out. Mine is an REI version using e-Vent fabric that as far as I can tell they don't make anymore.
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/pr...718.373.0.html
Last edited by pityr; 01-03-12 at 11:06 PM.
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Ventucky, CA
Bikes: 2014 Surly Straggler (Loretta Martin)
I like the topic, though I have more specific questions.
For those who own one and use one, would you recommend it? (Also in the PNW context)
For those who own one and use one, if you lost it would you replace it?
I may just bite the bullet and try it myself but if someone who uses one has an opinion and would share I would be grateful.
For those who own one and use one, would you recommend it? (Also in the PNW context)
For those who own one and use one, if you lost it would you replace it?
I may just bite the bullet and try it myself but if someone who uses one has an opinion and would share I would be grateful.
#1: As far as recommending one, it really depends what your needs are. I got mine after the ride where I had to stop at least three times in an hour to find paper towels ( thanks Subway, Chevron and roadside barista lady) to squeeze rain out of my hair, which was pulled back, in an effort to stem the flood that was pouring into my eyes. Blindness was proving to be a huge liability and a bigger irritation. Dammit, if riding is not fun then any and all adjustments must be made on the spot to restore it to being super damn fun.
However, I found that unless it is an extremely rainy circumstance, the helmet cover acts as a terrarium, trapping all the heat from my body that is trying to escape through my head. Too hot. So, I think I have used it twice in four months.
During a week-long trip in Ventura county, I woke up to a rainy day and used the hotel shower cap. It worked beautifully.
#2: If I lost mine, I think I would find a replacement in my collection of hotel shower caps.
I live in Seattle, and ride through every weather that is ride-able -- if my bike will get through it and can stay upright in or on it, I ride. I value my super warm gloves and army-surplus wool socks far more than I do the helmet cover.
#34
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,846
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From: Los Alamos, NM
Bikes: Fuji Cross Comp, BMC SR02, Surly Krampas
I usually just wear a cap under my helmet. I do have the Garneau one, but have relegated it to rainy training rides or for my wife to use - I have lights and battery on my helmet, and the cover won't work with them there.
#35
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 6
From: Falls City, OR
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93
I have a J & G helmet cover but it doesn't have a provision to hold my Blackburn Flea helmet headlight, which I really like as I ride in the dark most of the time. It is the main reason I wear a helmet. It has a tag to hang a rear blinky from, but won't hold my headlight in any useful way. So for the winter I put electrical and masking tape over all of the vent holes in my helmet. That seems to work OK.
My O2 rain shell does have a hood which I would use under my helmet, but I like the J & G jacket better so I haven't been wearing the O2 lately.
My O2 rain shell does have a hood which I would use under my helmet, but I like the J & G jacket better so I haven't been wearing the O2 lately.
#37
I use a thin merino neck gaiter. It was a little tight, so I figured I'd wear it like a hat for a few days to stretch it out. I think that was three years ago, and I'm still wearing it like a hat, because it's the perfect hat for cycling.
#39
Low car diet
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,407
Likes: 4
From: Corvallis, OR, USA
Bikes: 2006 Windsor Dover w/105, 2007 GT Avalanche w/XT, 1995 Trek 820 setup for touring, 201? Yeah single-speed folder, 199? Huffy tandem.
I tend to overheat in general, but I've been using a helmet cover for years and it works great. I've had no problems with my head getting too hot. I live in the PNW and I ride on many rainy but warm days, whether it's in-town riding, the 10 mile commute, or long weekend rides.
I'd ignore the folks on here saying "no" based purely on theory.
I'd ignore the folks on here saying "no" based purely on theory.
#40
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,643
Likes: 68
From: Portland OR
Bikes: 61 Bianchi Specialissima 71 Peugeot G50 7? P'geot PX10 74 Raleigh GranSport 75 P'geot UO8 78? Raleigh Team Pro 82 P'geot PSV 86 P'geot PX 91 Bridgestone MB0 92 B'stone XO1 97 Rans VRex 92 Cannondale R1000 94 B'stone MB5 97 Vitus 997
I commute in Portland OR, with headlamp and tail lamp on my helmet, so a helmet cover is out. I'd definitely pick the neon one, if I did use one. As it is, I simply wear a baseball cap under the helmet. It is water-resistant enough and the cap's visor works while the helmet's visor doesn't. When it is really raining, your glasses are getting wet no matter what. The cap also holds in heat better that the helmet alone, though when it is cold, I wear a thin balaclava too. We've had an easy winter so far, weird because La Nina was supposed to bring a wet, cold winter.
#42
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,465
Likes: 4,547
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
I contemplated the same question until I read a tip for cheap motel style shower caps. they are great. thin, easy to store, easy to fit, let your helmet colors reflectivity and design show through. they work great against the cold and wind too. when things heat up it's so easy to whip them off at a traffic light and stuff in a pocket. no struggling with a tight fit. no giant goody yellow ball on your head.
of course you need to stay in a decent hotel first to get one hahaha but maybe you can get such an item at cvs?
of course you need to stay in a decent hotel first to get one hahaha but maybe you can get such an item at cvs?
#43
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
Likes: 597
From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
I've always just ridden without one and let my head get wet in the rain (which it does plenty of here in the winter). For those who live in a similar or same climate as PNW, do you wear one?
If you had to pick between these two, which would you pick?

Louis Garneau https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...0052_529400_-1
or

Nashbar house brand https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...0052_172132_-1
If you had to pick between these two, which would you pick?

Louis Garneau https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...0052_529400_-1
or

Nashbar house brand https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...0052_172132_-1
I generally leave it on all the time, year round, but I do take it off occasionally when it's really hot out.
#45
since I commute at night or during low light times of the day I need to have lights everywhere and need to be ugly conspicuous especially in rain. I picked up a thin light weight tennis ball yellow one back a while and cut slits in it to accommodate the lights (top and back). works fine. though in torrential downpours it will leak. however nothing will help when it's really pouring here in Atlanta in the winter. YMMV.
#47
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,285
Likes: 1
From: Kherson, Ukraine
Bikes: Old steel GT's, for touring and commuting
I not only have lights front (top really) and rear, but I have a large aftermarket visor on my helmet so I haven't tried any helmet covers assuming they won't fit. I've been intrigued for a while and considering crafting my own, but with my commute being right around an hour and the rain in Seattle during my commute almost always seems to be a steady light rain which isn't a problem at our temperatures. If it was pouring down rain regularly I might feel differently.
For now, a thin balaclava under the helmet does well to keep my head warm enough and breathes to let out some of the heat which I build up climbing all the hills here.
YMMV
For now, a thin balaclava under the helmet does well to keep my head warm enough and breathes to let out some of the heat which I build up climbing all the hills here.
YMMV
Last edited by Medic Zero; 01-07-12 at 03:59 PM.
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